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Dr. Clemens Trautmann appointed President of Deutsche Grammophon

Thursday 3 September 2015

Senior media executive and award-winning Juilliard scholar Dr. Clemens Trautmannto take over operational management of the world renowned classical label

Berlin, 03 September 2015 – Dr. Clemens Trautmann has been appointed President of Deutsche Grammophon in Berlin, the most prestigious label in classical music and home to the greatest artists for over 100 years.

Reporting jointly to Frank Briegmann, Universal Music’s President of Central Europe and Deutsche Grammophon, and Dickon Stainer, Universal Music’s President and CEO of Global Classics, Dr. Clemens Trautmann takes up his new role on December, 1st.

Dr. Clemens Trautmann has extensive experience in classical music, the arts and today’s rapidly evolving media business which he will bring to the leadership of the celebrated label. He began his career studying the clarinet with Sabine Meyer and Reiner Wehle at the Lübeck Academy of Music and then with Charles Neidich at New York’s esteemed Juilliard School where he received his Master of Music degree. As a soloist and chamber musician he has performed at numerous concerts and international festivals and was featured on a variety of recordings. He was awarded the prestigious Hans Sikorski memorial prize and honoured by the Schleswig-Holstein Musik Festival.

A fully qualified lawyer, who is 38, Dr. Clemens Trautmann has held a number of senior and strategic roles at leading media companies. For the last six years, he has worked at Germany’s foremost digital publishing company Axel Springer, most recently serving as Managing Director of Axel Springer’s Immonet online business and heading up the office of the CEO as Chief of Staff. He has run a number of the company’s priority management board programmes including those focusing on developing new businesses and driving digital change.

Dr. Clemens Trautmann succeeds Mark Wilkinson who, as announced in March, is taking up a new global role within Universal Music’s classical business as Vice President International Strategy & Artist Development.

Frank Briegmann said: “I am very happy that Clemens is taking over as head of Deutsche Grammophon. As a distinguished musician and experienced executive he embodies two features which we have always seen as the mainstays of Deutsche Grammophon: unrivalled creative leadership and the courage to pursue new business strategies. Clemens will further consolidate the label’s success and make sure that going forward Deutsche Grammophon’s unique capabilities will be explored to the fullest. I wish Clemens and his fantastic team many exciting ideas and even more success.”

Dickon Stainer, said: “Clemens‘ appointment marks a new chapter in the history of Deutsche Grammophon. He is a musician himself, and he brings unique experience in managing a changing business at a time when the classical music industry is in an era of extraordinary transformation. I am sure Clemens is going to offer artists a compelling new vision and I am very excited he is joining the Company.”

Dr. Clemens Trautmann, said: “For three decades Deutsche Grammophon recordings have instilled a sense of artistic quality in me and have deeply informed my knowledge of the repertoire. Classical music today is in a position that calls for a fresh approach to keeping it valuable and relevant, in particular in the way we adapt to digital platforms. Continuing to position the Deutsche Grammophon brand as a driver of innovation and as the uncompromising standard of excellence can only be achieved by working closely with each of our artists and with every member of the team. It’s a wonderful challenge that I am greatly looking forward to.”

Deutsche Grammophon is known the world over for its creative and innovative leadership in classical music. In its 117-year history it has led the industry in stereo production, the CD, classical music downloads and most recently the development of new music apps. The label always ensures its artists have the best possible platforms and opportunities to present and perform their work and has always been the first choice for classical music stars, including the likes of Daniel Barenboim, Pierre Boulez, Gustavo Dudamel, Elīna Garanča, Hélène Grimaud, Hilary Hahn, Daniel Hope, Herbert von Karajan, Anne-Sophie Mutter, Anna Netrebko, Maurizio Pollini, Max Richter, Grigory Sokolov, Bryn Terfel, Daniil Trifonov, Rolando Villazón, Yuja Wang, Lisa Batiashvili, Miloš Karadaglić and Alice Sara Ott.

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